The Journey's of Shroker is a blog about all sorts of topics. Ranging from mundane everyday things to technology, gizmo's to sports, recreational events. Included my recent treks into paintballing again.
As this blog is taking a new turn I will be updating various topics. Same content with a different overlay plus some new ones.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

I often see people saying that NVIDIA is not competitive enough and need to worry.

They need to worry? They revoluntized thousands of people's work with CUDA.

CUDA (which is used by CoreAVC video decoder )saved me $500+ on needing to upgrade a computer to watch HD1080p and 720p movies without lag.

ATi has become the past Creative. Trying to concentrate on one market and that is all they can do.

Nvidia is even selling personal super computers now.

Now, before people start telling me how impractical personal supercomputers are, it is the same reason that something like the new ATI Radeon HD 5970 will be. Used for things like simulators and of the sort that will make use of its massive power.

However, I don't recall ATI cards being able to do anything but graphics.

When the Playstation 3 released with its CELL processor, it was used for a lot of scientific work; just like Nvidia's TELSA and

QUADRO cards have been doing for graphic rendering and applying the CUDA language into splitting the work between the CPU

and the GPU.

With that said, ATI does a good job being impressive, but the 5970 is reportedly a foot long.

If you can manage to squeeze that in along with all the cables and ram and everything. Then awesome, but it is a huge hassal.

That is like saying. "I want a tank, I'; just run over my garage with it so I can park it, since it won't fit in their".

But hey, like any market, some will stuck to ATI and some will stick to Nvidia.

I have throughly cleaned my room again, dusted, moved things around and reorgainized a LOT of things.It is a great feeling when you are able to get things done and have a fresh feeling of accomplishment.

Got through my philosophy test yesterday, although I don't feel too well about it.Did not do well. That is a given. However, my previous two tests were superb so it will hold up, but even then. It's a downer to bomb one. : (.

Vancouver's weather has started to kick up with a storm warning. Buckets and gallons of rain and lungful of wind is being blown everywhere.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Once in awhile; you look at life and think back on all the things that have made who you are.Present time, in the realm of reality. What is there to say, the choices we make, we sometimes think that changing them will do good, but perhaps changing it may have resulted in something else.There is no definite choice you can make in life. Only a choice and hope it is correct; or make a choice and stick with the results.

Life does not give way for you. What happens is final. But you always have to remember that no matter where you go, no matter where you run, those decisions in the past will stay because they have created you.You are running, because of those decisions. The very reason you are escaping reality is because of those choices.

But that is what we do in life, is it not? To step forward, to learn new things. Deep down, regardless what kind of person you are, there is that inner desire to do so. Hope and will, is what we loose sight of.When it times of failure, or of a low from something else, an external factor that affects oneself.An important thing to remember is that there will always be someone willing to help you out.You have to be willing to admit to yourself that something is wrong, then gather the strength and willpower to step forward, away from the slump that we live in, to attain our goals.

People change, life changes us, one way or the other. We learn from either realization, experience, or the harsh truth of failure. We also let our emotions affect our judgment. People will disagree that they do not, however, within us, there can be a minor bias that we are not aware of, in which will alter our opinion to something of a particular topic.

There are people who, now starting there first year of post-secondary life, who do not realize the impending consequences of priorities. Granted it is not an easy thing to change, even I myself, when I know I have to do work, will be pulled away by not doing something that needs to be done; but that is a matter of getting down to why we are not doing work. Back to the subject, there are people who still have to fix certain parts of there priorities, on a bigger scale, before it pulls them down.Granted it is never too late for something, but it is also never too late for life to swing the reality hammer on you, and make you grasp hard onto what you have. To recover, from those mistakes, is a journey that can be rough beyond all means.

To watch, friends, not take important things seriously enough, is also a gruesome scene to watch.But at the same time, you try to help, knowing that only the mistakes and the severity of what is to come, really influence them into the consequences of not taking things into proper matters.

Emotions, what we call human emotions, drive us to do all sort of different things, good, bad, academic, murder, crime, love, hate, and whatever else there is that you can think of.The root of it, mental and psychological, attuned with our character and personality results in various actions. The environment in which we grew up in, also affects the outcome of how we become who we are.There are times in your life, you choose to make decision, purely by emotion, even when logical reasoning defies it or makes it impractical to do so. Is it the right one? Are we willing to endure that kind of pressure and roller coaster of feelings and depression that accompanies such choice. We do the strangest of things due to our emotions.

So anyway, long post aside; I will be writing more later.Happy Thanksgiving everyone!.-Shroker

Final Fantasy Music: Distant Worlds of 2009 played in Vancovuer, BC, Canada this year.I must say, it was quite amazing and enjoyable.Being able to hear orchestrated versions of soundtracks from the Final Fantasy series,gives you a sense of immersion with the lively hood of the game.Re-arranged from the originals, they give a different feel, taste, and/or style to the original.

For those that could not make it, or are not able to attend, we wish you the best of luck in the future in hopes to attend of these concerts.

Also, a special premier was done at this very concert, in which is also a premier for all of North America.The main theme for Final Fantasy 7, in which has only ever been played by an orchestra, once in Japan, was played at this very concert. It was spectacular. For those that dreamed and wondered what the original theme for Final Fantasy VII. Keep imagining; possibly they will release a CD for it in the future concerts and may have this track in it.

Unfortunaly, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra did not apparently provide proper progames so I do not have a full listing of the songs played.However,Those that I can recall right at this very moment include.Opening~Bombing Mission - FFVIITo Zanakard - FFXFisherman's Horizion - FFVIIIAerith's Theme - FFVIITerra - FFVITheme of Love - FFIVMemoro de La Stono~Distant Worlds - FFXIOpera "Maria and Draco" - FFVIMan with a Machine Gun - FFVIIIVamo' alla Flamenco - FFIXSwing de Chocobo - Swing version Chocobo songs.One-Winged Angel - FFVIILove Grows - VIII

Also, the conductor, Arnie Roth started the concert off with what we all have heard, deep at heart in many, many of the games from the series.Victory Fanfare.He also ended the concert, (After the long progression of 3 encores.) with Fanfare; giving everyone a good night's chuckle.

There will be more to update, but as for now. That will be it.Shroker.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Google maps new feature called "Street View" released in Canada yesterday, and I must say, it is very cool. Within the google maps, zoom to an appoperiate level where you can see streets and on the zoom bar; there is now a little yellow person icon. Drag that onto the road and viola, you will be put into street view.

Google Street View Info HelpThe link above will direct you to google maps street view introduction page and gives you a quick brief about it.It's quite neat. Google took these pictures if I last remember reading few months ago, they also plan to do another round sometime near the Olympics (or when the venues are all completed) so those people coming into Canada (and Vancouver) can take a look at where to go!.

Now, people are bothering about privacy issue and everything, and I have to say, "Are you really going to sue some random person who took a picture of you (or a view and you were in it)?".The truth? : No, you won't because it's on person and you most likely didn't do. It is in public streets and you are not entitled to the randomness of things that can happen, however, if you were harassed and thnings like that, then it's a different story.

That's really what Google did, they stuck a 360 degree camera on there car, drove around Vancouver / Canada and its various locations (Wow. that must have burnt a lot of gas. Imagine the plains!) and took pictures and collaborated it into there map system. They did however, blur our people's faces (that were close to the car, say sidewalk level most likely, since anything past that is blurred by pixelation.) and license plates and etc. It is very cool; and great tool for guiding friends to somewhere; like click on so and so street, go there, take a left. And they can visually appeal where to go, rather than only figuring out a map and not knowing what the road might look like.

I hope you everyone takes a chance to look at it. It looks quite fun and can be a useful tool.Please, don't abuse in doing stupid things. Good ideas get trashed because of people doing stupid things with them.

Monday, October 5, 2009

I brought an extension cable to my psychology class today, so I could plug my laptop in; mostly because the power plug is no where near, and the ones tng on what are near (depending on where I sit) is above me, high on the wall. My extension cable is few meters long and I plugged it into the powerbar that the overhead projector uses.It's quite humors. The cable is also bright orange.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Nerf, the toy manufacture, now makes DS Accessories.I must say, they look kind of cool.They have these NERF DS stylus, a bit big, but it is nice and spongy.Also along the pen is the NERF armor. Which is basically a full enclosure with a relatively thick spongy case on top of its thin inner hard case (to stick the padding onto, of course.).I will post photos soon.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Alright, so I'm giving this post through email a test.Class is doing okay. A bit tired.Not as exhausted as I thought I would be but still tired. Hope everyone is doing okay during the second week of school.Good luck my fellow schoolmates!.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Classes have started up again.Pretty tired but thats how things are!. On a side note;Xfire now has native IM support for MSN and AIM!It is currently in Alpha development but it's quite useful if you want to hop onto a gameand don't want to miss a message.

PAX 2009 was very fantastic.Got to meet a lot of people.I have to run off to class now and fight off an annoying tired eye.

Going to write up this post at home, after cleaning up my room and getting some schoolmaterial ready.Aside from that. Photos will also be posted on my flickr/dA. Depending on which comes first.A link will be provided.

Well, it is depressing for myself to think. That I screwed up my first 3 semesters.What is important is knowing what I have learned from these mistakes.And improve on them.That is the most important part of an learning experience.

In other news, how has everyone enjoyed there summer?I hope the hot weather has not cause mental melt down of the processing centers.I know it has for computers!.

Monday, August 17, 2009

I am officially 19 now.Legal to corrupt my very own life and error making.Also the age to fix those as life continues on.

Had a great day, with family and friends.Ate dinner, yummy crab and lobster.A new skytrain line opened today and so my friend and I checked it outand rode it a short bit (since it was free for the day till 9pm).

More to come.Thanks for all the happy birthdays guys!From Facebook and the various emails from people and other websites.

Friday, August 7, 2009

I just recently finished Battlestar Galatica and I must say, I am quite impressed with it.The story line starts off a bit soft and it builds up pretty neatly.

The writer definitely has a liking in putting the lead characters into emotional positions.Worst case scenarios one can be in.

The music through the seasons and episodes are well done, fitted and sis paired fluently.I have attained the soundtrack for all the seasons and loving it very much.

There is a big emphasize in hidden meanings. Some such as how society and social rulings effects one's judgment. Personal conflict and emotional conflict. Society vrs Military Tradition.And also hindlights when those do work out. Its complex to explain in a post as I am not awake to do so.

But I would suggest those that love Sci-fi to check it out. It's a great show.It's fun, exciting and great with twists.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

So I haven't updated about Anime Evolution stuff yet.Could not figure out where I wanted to startThat and the lack of receiving my photos has been bothering me.I will try to get around to it.In the mean time, I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Classes mixed in during with the nice summer breeze isn't too bad really.Sure it cuts down on what to do and such but in my opinion. I don't see the difference.How is winter any different from summer?. The only reason why courses are offered during the regular season aside from summer is because most people take vacations during the summer.

Which makes complete sense. However; since I am not going anywhere and bumming around at home isn't too good for the health. Instead of being lazy. I took two courses during the summer.

Have to sort out some stuff and such. Need to find a job and get working to earn some money and get some work hours into transcripts. Started to do some exercise which is not too bad.My ankle is getting better, I have to remember to do my stretches and get the muscles back into action.

Life is well I guess. Gotta study well and such.That's all the time I have for today. Hoping to post some more later.See you all around,

Saturday, May 23, 2009

So on the phone with a friend at night.We were talking about how we haven't met up in a while.Names have been changed for disclosure.

Me: "I haven't seen Pillow for a while"Tak: "You haven;t felt Pillow in a while?!"Me: "What?!"Tak: "Sure, lets go to UBC one day, then you can feel him with your hands all over."Me: "We should flash Pillow".Tak: "Flash?! Wait what?"Me: *all of us are cracking up laughing* "No! I mean call flash!. Not flash flash."Tak: "Oooohh. Okay"

And it lead to a conversation about explaining to Pillow on what had happened.Eventually we all fell asleep.

Other than that. My ankle is getting better I think. I have a checkup this upcoming Monday.Should be doing well. Managed to play some light basketball. Hope it did not kill my ankle.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Once again, after the data on my previous HDD from years ago was wiped, I recently decided to look for the soundtrack for a game called Sword of The New World.Sword of The New World Main Page. The game is quite interesting and netherless it is fun to play,interesting clothing style and loveable music that will keep you playing. In my case it did anyways.

The game is a unique MCC system (Multi-character-control) system where the player creates a "family" and you login to the New World with a team of up to 3 characters, in which you can control at indivudally or togetehr as a group.I would recommend people to take a look at it.

The summer semester has started.I think I'm going to do take the bullet and not be lazyand get that other course.I think I've played the 50/50 life too long.Maybe it is time I shifted over ot the 75/25. You know. More work than play.Ha!. Is what we say; but oh well.The summer semester is just liek every other semester but hotter.

Smile and be proud.Time will pass-by so do it right.Thinking on it; it's a bit creepy how much time three months go by; does'nt it.See everyone on the other side.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Can't believe it's been two months since I injured my ankle.Almost going into the third.Time sure does fly by.Makes school a total wreck.Laziness in the early morning.However; Things are going well. I am able to limp walk now.Still paranoid constantly about how it is holding up.Hope everyone is doing okay. With the whacky weather that has been around.

Been a whole month since I updated too!. Where have I been. : (Sorry to those that follow the blog. I have deprived you people of a post.So, how are things with me? Great I must say.I finally after a year or so. Decided to do a OS Wipe on my PC.Wanted to try the Windows 7 Beta, and I must say it is pretty.However, it being the beta. I wanted to wait for the release candidate.I uninstalled Windows 7 Beta and installed Vista and give that a go.The one nice part about it is DirectX 10. The rest, hasn't broken on me yet.I have Vista on my laptop and i've been doing decently well with it.

Anyhow!, for those that are still in high school. :P. Which is many of you.I hope you all have a marvelous Spring Break.I've been a bit wardy these days.Haven't felt so good.Emotionally and mentally. Hoping I can cope and make some proper course decisionsnext semester.

Anyhow. I'm going to get ready and head home after this class ends.Tired, want to sleep. Everythings a blob.I'm a blob!Need to unblob!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

If it was not for my injured ankle.I would go out and take pictures of the lovely fog.It's very calming at night.In my street their are tall, stone street lights.Giving off a warm orange glow.Makes you want to fall asleep.I hope to get some pictures of the view sometime soon before it disappears.It has been around for three days at least now.Consistently through the day and night.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

In a recent discovery. I saved quite a bit of money on textbooks.While at home. I was rather unhappy about the costly textbook I was buying.Although I do intend to keep them, trying to reduce the price never hurt to try.Saved roughly 50$ in books. And free shipping. ThusMoney saved.

Friday, January 2, 2009

During the count down to the New Years,I recorded a video!.For those that were their and is reading this.Unfortunately I forgot to set the video to 1080P (aka HD Resolution)So it recorded in standard 640x whatever the other half is XD 320?.

Moving on. We had quite a blast and we all enjoyed ourselves.After I recover some more sleep from my nap I will continue this update.

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About Me

I am currently a student studying Computer Science and Engineering at Simon Fraser Univiersity in lovely, British Columbia. I live in Vancouver, BC and enjoy my time studying, computers, electronics, paintball and many other hobbies and activities!